Calochortus syntrophus
Encyclopedia
Calochortus syntrophus is a rare species of flowering plant in the lily family
known by the common names Callahan's Mariposa lily and clustered Mariposa lily. It is endemic to northern California
, where it occurs in a remote area north of Montgomery Creek
in Shasta County
. It has also been spotted in adjacent Tehama County
. Its habitat includes open, rocky areas with moist or wet soils in oak woodland territory. It was first discovered in 1993 and its description was published the following year.
This plant produces a thick, waxy stem 40 to 60 centimeters in maximum height. It grows from a bulb
which sometimes divides and sends up new stems nearby. The leaves are up to 20 or 30 centimeters long near the base of the plant and those occurring higher on the stem are shorter. The inflorescence
is a solitary flower or an umbel
-like cluster of up to five flowers. Each flower has lance-shaped sepal
s 2 to 4 centimeters long. The bell-shaped bloom has three whitish petals 3 to 5 centimeters long which are generally marked with a reddish brown blotch near the base. The flower bases are yellow with whiskery glandular hairs. The petals turn from white to pink as they age.
Liliaceae
The Liliaceae, or the lily family, is a family of monocotyledons in the order Liliales. Plants in this family have linear leaves, mostly with parallel veins but with several having net venation , and flower arranged in threes. Several have bulbs, while others have rhizomes...
known by the common names Callahan's Mariposa lily and clustered Mariposa lily. It is endemic to northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where it occurs in a remote area north of Montgomery Creek
Montgomery Creek, California
Montgomery Creek is a census-designated place in Shasta County, California, United States. The population was 163 at the 2010 census, up from 96 at the 2000 census...
in Shasta County
Shasta County, California
Shasta County is a county located in the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The county occupies the northern reaches of the Sacramento Valley, with portions extending into the southern reaches of the Cascade Range. As of the 2010 census, the population was 177,223, up from 163,256...
. It has also been spotted in adjacent Tehama County
Tehama County, California
Tehama County is a county located in the northern part of the U.S. state of California. It is bisected by the Sacramento River. As of 2010 its population was 63,463, up from 56,039 as of 2000. The county seat is Red Bluff.-History:...
. Its habitat includes open, rocky areas with moist or wet soils in oak woodland territory. It was first discovered in 1993 and its description was published the following year.
This plant produces a thick, waxy stem 40 to 60 centimeters in maximum height. It grows from a bulb
Bulb
A bulb is a short stem with fleshy leaves or leaf bases. The leaves often function as food storage organs during dormancy.A bulb's leaf bases, known as scales, generally do not support leaves, but contain food reserves to enable the plant to survive adverse conditions. At the center of the bulb is...
which sometimes divides and sends up new stems nearby. The leaves are up to 20 or 30 centimeters long near the base of the plant and those occurring higher on the stem are shorter. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is a solitary flower or an umbel
Umbel
An umbel is an inflorescence which consists of a number of short flower stalks which are equal in length and spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs....
-like cluster of up to five flowers. Each flower has lance-shaped sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s 2 to 4 centimeters long. The bell-shaped bloom has three whitish petals 3 to 5 centimeters long which are generally marked with a reddish brown blotch near the base. The flower bases are yellow with whiskery glandular hairs. The petals turn from white to pink as they age.